2026 PhD Graduate - Modeling and Simulation Analyst - Air Combat and Strike Mission Analysis Group

Are you a PhD graduate with an interest in supporting the development and employment of novel air vehicles, weapons, sensors, and countermeasures? Do you like contributing to a highly collaborative team environment and learning from some of the top experts in their fields? If so, we are looking for someone like you to join our team!

We are seeking outstanding candidates to help us shape the development of air dominance and strike platforms, kinetic and non-kinetic weapons, and military tactics by building and applying modeling and simulation tools to perform multi-domain survivability and mission effectiveness analysis.

We are a large team of 50+ engineers, physicists, mathematicians, and computer scientists who perform mission-level analysis to drive acquisition decisions on important precision strike technologies. Our work is sophisticated, engaging, and frequently has significant impact on Department of Defense programs. We believe in building strong, productive teams, continually growing our capabilities, cultivating collaborative relationships and encouraging a work environment that embraces integrity, trust, confidence, teamwork, accountability, and a little bit of fun. Our team always emphasizes personal development over short-lived success, and we pride ourselves on our intellectual integrity and our ability to deliver outstanding, unbiased analysis products!

As a member of our team, you will perform one or more of the following:

• Evaluate the US military's ability to deny, degrade, disrupt, and deceive threat sensors, communications, and tracking to improve platform survivability in contested environments
• Model scenarios with strike weapons and aircraft to make critical contributions to their design, requirements, and optimal tactical employment
• Conduct and analyze multi-domain, mission-level simulations to identify trends, extract meaningful insights, and support mission planning and strategic decision-making
• Apply MATLAB, Python, and/or other programming languages to develop scripts to process and analyze data

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a PhD in engineering, physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related technical field
• Have some familiarity with programming languages and standard methodologies
• Can work effectively in a team environment as well as independently
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date, and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have a PhD in one of the technical fields listed above with research focused on designing, conducting and analyzing experiments
• Are skilled in data visualization or modeling and simulation
• Have experience with air platform maneuverability and survivability, radio frequency (RF) physics and signal processing, or Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (ISR&T)
• Have experience applying MATLAB or Python to analysis problems
• Have an active security clearance

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.